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16

Chapter 16 of 18

24 verses

Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga

दैवासुर सम्पद विभाग योग

The Yoga of the Division of Divine and Demoniac Qualities

24 Verses
16:1श्रीभगवानुवाच

अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः । दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥ 16:1॥

Fearlessness, purity of character, remaining firmly anchored in spiritual Knowledge, charity, subjugation of the senses and performance of yajna (spiritual pursuits), self-study {of scriptures}, austerity and uprightness, (16:1)

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16:2श्रीभगवानुवाच

अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् । दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्॥ 16:2॥

Non-violence, truthfulness (speaking and respecting the truth), absence of anger, willingness to sacrifice for others, inner peace (maintaining a calm mind and not disturbing the peace of others), refraining from speaking ill of others, compassion toward all beings, freedom from covetousness and greed, gentleness {in temperament and speech}, a sense of shame, and steadfastness; (16:2)

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16:3श्रीभगवानुवाच

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता । भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ॥ 16:3॥

Radiance, forgiveness, endurance, cleanliness, the absence of malevolence, deceit, and disloyalty, and not seeking excessive honor for oneself— all these, O Bhārata, represent the qualities of individuals endowed with divine wealth. (16:3)

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16:4श्रीभगवानुवाच

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च । अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ॥ 16:4॥

And, O Pārtha! Ostentation, arrogance, conceit, anger, a harsh demeanor, and ignorance are traits of individuals characterized by demonical wealth. (16:4)

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16:5श्रीभगवानुवाच

दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता । मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव॥ 16:5॥

Divine wealth is thought to lead to Liberation, while demonical wealth binds one {to the cycle of birth, death, and suffering}. Therefore, O, Son of Pāndu, do not lament, for you are born with divine wealth. (16:5)

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16:6श्रीभगवानुवाच

द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्दैव आसुर एव च । दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु॥ 16:6॥

O Arjuna! There are two distinct types of individuals in this world—those with a divine nature and those with a demonical disposition. I have already elaborated on the qualities of the divine nature. Now, listen to the attributes of those with a demonical nature. (16:6)

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16:7श्रीभगवानुवाच

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः । न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते ॥ 16:7॥

People with a demonical nature lack the discernment to determine which actions to embrace and which to avoid. Such individuals lack purity, good conduct, and truthfulness. (16:7)

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16:8श्रीभगवानुवाच

असत्यमप्रतिष्ठं ते जगदाहुरनीश्वरम् । अपरस्परसम्भूतं किमन्यत्कामहैतुकम्॥ 16:8॥

They—those with a demonical disposition—assert that there is no enduring truth in the world, that the world lacks a foundational or sustaining force, that there is no God or Supreme Ruler, and that the origin of living beings is solely driven by sexual passion. According to them, apart from lust and indulgence, life holds no other purpose. (16:8)

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16:9श्रीभगवानुवाच

एतां दृष्टिमवष्टभ्य नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः । प्रभवन्त्युग्रकर्माणः क्षयाय जगतोऽहिताः॥ 16:9॥

Individuals who have degraded themselves by embracing this worldview, and have a clouded understanding, lose their ethical bearings, causing harm to others, and wreaking havoc in the world through their wanton deeds. (16:9)

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16:10श्रीभगवानुवाच

काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः। मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः॥ 16:10॥

Consumed by an unquenchable thirst for carnal pleasures and sensory gratification, these individuals of demonical nature traverse the world driven by arrogance, vanity, and are intoxicated by power. They embrace erroneous ideologies and engage in impious actions. (16:10)

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16:11श्रीभगवानुवाच

चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिताः। कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्चिताः॥ 16:11॥

Convinced that the pursuit of material comforts and the fulfillment of sensual desires constitute life's ultimate objective, they firmly believe that the material world is all that exists, with nothing beyond it. As a result, they carry a multitude of worldly concerns and anxieties until the moment of their passing. (16:11)

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16:12श्रीभगवानुवाच

आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः । ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान्॥ 16:12॥

Trapped in cycles of hundreds of expectations and driven by anger and pleasure, these individuals seek to acquire wealth through unethical means for sensual indulgence. (16:12)

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16:13श्रीभगवानुवाच

इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् । इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम् ॥ 16:13॥

"Having accomplished one goal today, I will now fulfill another wish. With the amount of money I already possess, more wealth is sure to come my way. (16:13)

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16:14श्रीभगवानुवाच

असौ मया हतः शत्रुर्हनिष्ये चापरानपि । ईश्वरोऽहमहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान्सुखी॥ 16:14॥

I have vanquished this adversary, and now I will destroy the other ones; I am the Lord, and I am going to enjoy; I am successful, I am mighty, I am happy, (16:14)

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16:15श्रीभगवानुवाच

आढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया । यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्यज्ञानविमोहिताः॥ 16:15॥

I am wealthy, have a large family, and who can compare to me? I will perform grand rituals (yajnas), make generous donations, and revel in enjoyment." Such individuals, captivated by such delusion, (16:15)

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16:16श्रीभगवानुवाच

अनेकचित्तविभ्रान्ता मोहजालसमावृताः । प्रसक्ताः कामभोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ॥ 16:16॥

Ensnared by ignorance, their minds tangled in a web of thoughts, and trapped in the illusion of worldly desires, they persistently cling to sensory indulgence, ultimately descending into abominable hells. (16:16)

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16:17श्रीभगवानुवाच

आत्मसम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धनमानमदान्विताः । यजन्ते नामयज्ञैस्ते दम्भेनाविधिपूर्वकम्॥ 16:17॥

The arrogant ones, believing themselves superior, intoxicated by their wealth and false prestige, perform sacrificial ceremonies merely as a facade, for ostentation, and to flaunt their lordliness, without adhering to the true essence and principles of the scriptures. (16:17)

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16:18श्रीभगवानुवाच

अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः । मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः॥ 16:18॥

Driven by ego, force, false pride, lust, and anger, these envious individuals harbor disdain for Me (God), who resides within both themselves and others. (16:18)

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16:19श्रीभगवानुवाच

तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान्संसारेषु नराधमान् । क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु॥ 16:19॥

I repeatedly consign such malevolent, heartless, unrighteous, and contemptible souls to wretched existences. (16:19)

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16:20श्रीभगवानुवाच

आसुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूढा जन्मनि जन्मनि । मामप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्यधमां गतिम्॥ 16:20॥

O Son of Kunti! Those lacking wisdom fail to attain My Grace and are reborn in demonic forms, spiraling through repeated births, and ultimately attaining abysmally low states of existence. (16:20)

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16:21श्रीभगवानुवाच

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्॥ 16:21॥

Sex, anger, and greed, these three, are the principal gateways to hell, leading to self-destruction. Hence, one must renounce all three. (16:21)

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16:22श्रीभगवानुवाच

एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः । आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम्॥ 16:22॥

O, Kaunteya! The person who shuns these three paths leading to darkness and instead walks the path to well-being, reaches the Ultimate Destination—Nirvāna. (16:22)

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16:23श्रीभगवानुवाच

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः। न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम्॥ 16:23॥

Those who act arbitrarily, disregarding the prescribed paths and processes outlined in the scriptures, do not attain spiritual fulfillment, happiness, or the ultimate goal, (16:23)

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16:24श्रीभगवानुवाच

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि॥ 16:24॥

Therefore, in matters of what ought to be done and what not (what is ethical and unethical), let the scriptures be your authentic guide. Recognizing this, one should act in accordance with the scriptural injunctions. (16:24)

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